23 Great Bars With Outdoor Happy Hours

Plein-air places for discount drinks and snacks.

With scorchers on the horizon, it’s time for the great sip and sweat session that
is summer in Washington. We mined the watering holes on our Great Bars list for places offerings outdoor happy hours, and came up with this list of 23. Don’t
forget the sunglasses—you’re going to need them.

The setting: On the $5 happy hour menu you’ll find everything from sweet tea vodka
(a.k.a. River Tea) to an order of sweet potato goat cheese spread. Umbrellas provide
some shade along the Mount Vernon Square side patio, which seats about 80 patrons.

The setting: If you are near Barracks Row for happy hour, head to this covered rooftop
that seats about 30 to expand your palate with cocktails made with rakia, a fruit
brandy commonly found in Balkan watering holes and liquor cabinets.

The setting: A rustic rooftop with stools pulled up to barrel tables looks down onto
the patio lined with long wooden tables, giving you that Oktoberfest aesthetic all
summer long. The only thing better? A cold Hefeweizen and a warm pretzel.

The setting: Talk about a power patio. Its 30 seats attract many DC influencers, but
its prices are affordable to everyone—$5 gets you everything from Parmesan baked scallops
to a glass of Syrah from Rhone, France. If only happy hour ran a little longer.

The setting: This partially covered rooftop offers sweeping views of the city and
the U Street corridor. You know a bar means business when it offers a late-night happy
hour on Sunday evenings. What better way to end the weekend?

The setting: Art Deco beams are the gateway to this rooftop pavilion in Arlington,
which can entertain a crowd of about 80. On Fridays, don’t be surprised if you end
up staying to dance the night away when the downstairs club opens for the weekend.
(Check your local listings beforehand, because this uncovered spot is closed during
those summer rainstorms.)

The setting: Take a break from your mini-golf and skeeball games and head up to the
rooftop for sweeping views of the city. If late meetings and projects constantly put
a damper on your happy hour outings, go on Tuesday, when discounts last until last
call.

The setting: The 116-seat patio of this Arlington spot is covered by an awning and
equipped with umbrellas. You’ll find not only a stellar drink selection during happy
hour but also small bites such as a house-ground burger for $10 and short-rib franks
for $6.

The setting: We meant it when we called this one of the “nicest roof terraces” in
Eastern Market. It seats about 90 and is shaded by oversize umbrellas. Stop by for
margaritas in flavors ranging from pomegranate to prickly pear.

The setting: This partially covered roof deck seats between 100 and 150 people (with
potential overflow crowd if there is a live show that night) with booths, bar stools,
and tables to relax. Saturday and Sunday you’ll find $13 bottomless mimosas and Bloody
Marys with brunch.